To have expected GP to prescribe antibiotics?

[CathyandHeathcliff]

My 12 month old DS has been out of sorts for a few days. We took him to the GP this morning as he’s been really whingey overnight lately, especially when lying down and he’s been crying a lot on and off. At first we thought it was his teeth. However because he’s been pulling at his ear we wanted to check if it was an ear infection. The GP checked him over. His temp was 37.2. She said the inside of his ears and throat were red. So I’m assuming that indicates an infection? But she didn’t prescribe any antibiotics. She just said they “looked a bit red, keep an eye on him and bring him back if it gets any worse”
And that it was an “unspecified viral infection”.
I always thought they prescribed antibiotics for little ones with ear infections or am I wrong? I didn’t get a chance to ask anymore as we were pretty much pushed out the door ready for the next patient.

There seems to be a lot more of the 'it's a virus, give it time' these days. If it's not an infection, antibiotics won't do anything.

I'd do as Dr says and go back in a couple of days if he's no better.

At 37.2 I wouldn’t have expected antibiotics no. There’s a culture of overuse of antibiotics which has led to antibiotic resistance

“unspecified viral infection”.

Well if it's a viral infection, antibiotics will do nothing for him except increase the liklihood that when he does need them they won't work. So, yes, YABU.

If it's a virus, antibiotics are pointless.

Antibiotics don't work for a virus.

Red indicates irritation- like when you have a cold and it feels raw - there is no high temp or puss - it sounds like a cold which antibiotics would do nothing for

I think YABU to expect it.. for too long drs were prescribing antibiotics way too easily! They aren’t a drug to be messed with and I would hate my children to take them unnecessarily, I’m glad there is a pushback on them now.

Infections can be viral or bacterial.

Antibiotics do nothing for viruses.

Sounds like the doc made the right call, if there was no pus, no high fever, etc.

Yup, antibiotics are not appropriate for viruses.

YABU.

If it's viral, antibiotics will make no difference.

Yabu. As previous posts have pointed out, antibiotics wouldn't do anything.
Even ignoring that, overprescribing antibiotics, especially in children can have horrific knock on effects if they actually do become so unwell as to require them.

And this is why people are becoming immune to antibiotics.

As others have said, wouldn't do anything for a viral infection...
And it's not like they're Halloween sweets (obviously), prescribing them when they're not necessary should therefore be discouraged (strongly discouraged. like any other kind of medication).

And then there's the issue of antibiotic resistance. I'm aware that animal agriculture is more of an issue than children with ear infections (well, most likely, at least) but it should also be considered imo.

So yes, I think yabu.
Wishing speedy recovery to your DC.

I always thought they prescribed antibiotics for little ones with ear infections or am I wrong?

But the Dr doesn't think it is an infection.

And this is why people are becoming immune to antibiotics.

It's not people that become immune to antibiotics - it's that the bacteria become resistant. Over-prescribing antibiotics puts us all at risk.

It can take the helpful bacteria in our gut months to recover from antibiotics, so it’s not in the patient’s interest to have antibiotics unless strictly necessary.

Taking antibiotics too often or unnecessarily in babies leads to all sorts of problems. My sons teeth have developed green because antibiotics changed his mouth flora while they were developing in his gums.

A viral infection is not an “infection” as you know it. A cold is a viral infection. An ear infection is bacterial. You can have a cold and have sore ears nose and throat without having an ear infection. Does that make sense? 😅

I ended up a few years ago very unwell after a long spell of various antibiotics, basically a long and bad spell of IBS type bowels symptoms. I don’t think people realise how bad they can be for you if you take them over and over again. I had been given them for acne (6 month course), 2 minor surgeries and a couple of chest infections over the course of 18 months. Took me a very long time to get my gut normal again and was very unpleasant!

Antibiotics are for bacterial infections.

Doctor suspects a virus here. The red ears and throat without purulence are very characteristic of a viral infection.

Also 37.2 isn't a temperature. A temperature is over 37.5.

I wouldn't have expected antibiotics, especially with that temperature.

you dont want antibiotics unless you really need them op,

The doctor should have explained to you her diagnosis better and said why she thinks her treatment plan is likely to successful. My gp at every appointment I have taken dc to always say that if they think it is a virus they won't give antibiotics as it will be ineffective, before she even exams them. After the exam the gp then make the diagnosis. We have been given antibiotics few times after the announcement. This makes me trust them more, as they only give it when they think it is nessessary.

You thought it was an ear infection. A doctor told you it's not. You still want antibiotics for an ear infection

Just to clear up some misconceptions. An ear infection alone does not automatically mean it's bacterial. Some ear infections are bacterial. The majority are viral and even if bacterial, most don't require antibiotics straight away. And viral infections are real infections (viruses kill too) but antibiotics won't work. (I'm a GP). Always best to get a child checked if you're worried.